The Brics are getting richer. That much we know. But are their citizens happy with their lot?
A report from polling organisation Gallup shows that in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, a perception that living standards are improving is anything but the norm. Nor are the overall satisfaction rates improving in line with economic growth.
A quick look at the numbers from Gallup shows that only in Brazil (65 per cent) and China (79 per cent) do a majority of respondents believe that living standards are on the way up. In India and South Africa, it’s just under half, and in Russia it’s barely a quarter of those surveyed (see table below)